Ilobu-Ifon: Osun Govt Inaugurates Committee On Communal Clash, Releases Mandate

News Update

OSUN State Government, under the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke has Inaugurated resolution committee on Ifon-Ilobu boundary crisis, on Monday, at the Osun State Government Secretariat, Abere.

Represented by his Deputy, Kola Adewusi, Governor said his administration is deeply concerned about the incessant disputes among the communities of Ifon and Ilobu and is initiating a process that will guarantee a lasting peace in the affected communities.

He also revealed that the new initiative has external leaders as part of the conflict resolution team whose goal is to once and for all mediate and finally put an end to the crisis.

“I am shocked that stakeholders in the crisis have forgotten that peace has always been among humanity’s highest values. We all know that peace is not just the absence of conflicts but the state of actively working together for progress and development.

“Our government is deeply concerned about the incessant disputes among the communities of Ifon and Ilobu. In view of recent developments and in a bid to prevent further escalation, our administration has initiated a process that will guarantee a lasting peace in the affected communities.

“The new initiative has external leaders as part of the conflict resolution team. The goal is to once and for all mediate and finally put an end to the crisis.

“The administration frowns at any attempt to politicise the crisis. We particularly warn those masquerading under communal struggle for political agenda to stay away from the issue. We will no longer tolerate playing politics with the lives of our people.

“It is in realisation of the urgency of the matter that I set up this enlarged land crisis resolution committee on the Ifon- Ilobu boundary crisis. Erin Osun has also been added to the enlarged committee.”

While calling on the committee members to deploy their wealth of experience to bear on the critical assignment, he disclosed that they have a fortnight to carry out their findings and submit the reports to the Osun State Government.

“Each of the affected communities has twenty-five representatives each while the State Government will also be represented by twenty – five members. The Ataoja of Osogbo land, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, Larooye II, and a retired judge and Chairman, Osun State boundary commission, Justice Moshood Adekunle Adeigbe, will serve as the Chairman and Co – Chairman of the committee respectively.

“Four other revered traditional rulers, as well as other individuals chosen by the government, will serve as members of the committee,” he said.

The committee is given two weeks to carry out its findings and submit the reports to the Osun State Government.